Tartuffe Explication

In the first two acts of Tartuffe, Orgon is fooled into believing the Tartuffe is a religious and honest man. Although Orgon is very gullible, the other family members in the house are not so easily fooled. Through Tartuffe’s actions the others are able to see his true nature. The trickery continues through to the third act where Damis brings some of Tartuffe’s actions to the attention of Orgon. The conversation that follows between Tartuffe, Orgon, and Damis reveals a lot about the true nature of their characters.

The conversation begins with Orgon speaking to Tartuffe:

Can it be true, this dreadful thing I hear?

Yes, Brother, I’m a wicked man, I fear:

A wretched sinner, all depraved and twisted,

The greatest villain that has ever existed. (3.6.1-4)

In the opening Orgon asks Tartuffe if the accusations are true. Tartuffe replies, “Yes, Brother” By doing this Tartuffe is playing into the relationship that he and Orgon had formed. In the next line he states the he is a “wretched sinner” which goes against the thought that he was a pure, religious man. Tartuffe makes himself out to be everything opposite of what he was originally believed to be. This is exploiting Orgon’s gullibility because by being so extreme and straightforward in his confession, Orgon refuses to accept it.

In the next few lines Tartuffe continues his confession, going beyond just the conflict at hand:

My life’s one heap of crimes, which grows with each minute

There’s naught but foulness and corruption in it;

And I perceive that Heaven, outraged by me,

Has chosen this occasion to mortify me. (3.6.5-8)

In these lines Tartuffe goes beyond just the conflict at hand, admitting that his entire life is “one heap of crimes.” This entire passage has reference to him being criminal in his actions through the use of “foulness,” “corruptions,” and he even uses “crime” in the first line. Next he goes back to the religious connotations when he says, “Heaven, outraged by me, Has chosen this occasion to mortify me.” The use of mortify suggests that he is ashamed of what he had done. This is used to gain sympathy from Orgon.

Next Tartuffe begins to step up and accept the blame that is being put on him:

Charge me with any deed you wish to name;

I’ll not defend myself, but take the blame,

Believe what you are told, and drive Tartuffe

Like some base criminal from beneath your roof;

Yes, drive me hence, and with a parting curse:

I shan’t protest, for I deserve far worse. (3.6.9-14)

The first word in this passage was “charge” as if to imply that his actions were criminal. This ties to the earlier statements that his life is “one heap of crimes.” The then shows that he will accept the blame for his actions and in the next line he once again refers to himself as a criminal. He continues by using reverse psychology on Orgon. He tells him to drive him from under his roof which in reality is the last thing he wants, but by doing this he is preying on Orgon’s gullibility because he gains the sympathy of Orgon rather than malice.

In the next lines Orgon begins speaking to Damis about the accusations towards Tartuffe:

Ah, you deceitful boy, how dare you try

To stain his purity with such a foul lie?

What! Are you taken in by such a bluff?

Did you not hear…?

Enough, you rogue, enough! (3.6.15-8)

Orgon begins by accusing Damis of lying to him and takes the side of Tartuffe. This is ironic because even after Tartuffe has revealed his true nature Orgon still refuses to believe him. He calls Damis “deceitful” when really he is being deceived by Tartuffe. In the next line he describes Tartuffe as “pure.” This goes along with the earlier theme that Orgon believes that Tartuffe is almost god-like. He then proceeds to attack Damis again, calling him a “rogue.” By doing this it shows that Orgon thinks very lowly of Damis as opposed